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HISTORY OF FERGUS COUNTY FROM THE EARLY DAYS
Fergus County is an irregular oblong running 120 miles east and west and 75 miles north and south.
The Missouri river forms the northern boundary and the Musselshell the eastern boundary. It contains
7,303 sq. miles. About 3/5 of the land in Fergus County is agricultural land, 1/5 grazing and 1/5
mountainous. The North and South Moccasin are in the north central part of the county and the Snowies
on the Southern border. The Judith river drains all the territory between the ranges.
Judith river was named in honor of a beautiful girl in Virginia to whom a lieutenant in the U. S.
army attached to expedition down the river was engaged, the river described was named Judith's (not
Judith). It rises in the Rocky Mountains near the Yellowstone river, its entrance being 100 yards wide.
Judith Basin is a tract of land 60 miles square. It is directly tributary to Maiden and the valleys in
the Judith Mts. being supplied with a plentiful supply offine spring water.
Lewistown, the center of Fergus Co. is 1400 miles from Chicago, 975 miles from IvIinneapolis, 117
miles from Great Falls, 250 miles from Butte, 154 miles from Billings, 201 miles from Bozeman, 211 miles
from Helena, 420 miles from Kalispell, 302 miles from Miles City, 377 miles from Missoula.
The first merchandising carried on in Fergus Co. was conducted by various parties of trappers who
had come the Missouri river by boat and would make short excursions into what is now Judith Basin. The
first merchandising in this community had its origin in 1873 when Nelson Story of Bozeman built a trading
post with 1. I. Dawes in charge on the site just back of old Reed's fort post office which is still in existence
opposite Frank Day's home. In 1878 Janeaux's, Dr. LaPalme, Gershon and the Pichette Bros. arrived. Mr.
& Mrs. Janeaux filed the first homestead ever filed in Fergus Co., this was before there was such a county
or state as Mont. The old Janeaux homestead runs through the north and eastern part of the city across
Spring Creek and now comprises some of the choice business and residence property of the city. Soon
after their location here they found it necessary to call upon the governor of the territory to send some
troops here for protection against the Indians and Major Lewis was placed in charge of the command.
Soon after this the Nelson Story trading post was sold to Major Reed and John Bowles and finaily this was
moved 2 & 1/2 miles down the creek to what was known as Carrol's crossing of Spring Creek. In the fall
of 1875 Reeds Fort was abandoned. In 1879 F. A. Janeaux established a trading post on the present site of
Lewistown and engaged in the trading business with the Indians. Mr. Janeaux died in 1888.
The first discovery of minerals was made by Joe Anderson and David Jones in May 1880. Gold
was first found in 1880 in the Alpine Gulch. Warm Spring Gulch was next struck, this being near the
present site of Maiden. A few days later the guich ofMaiden was located by Frank Mc Farthen.
To N. E. Dinsmore belongs the honor of opening the first exclusive clothing store while Mrs. Dr.
Rawn had the first millinery and exclusive ladies ready to wear store. In 1880 C. Boisonneault and
Pichette erected a store at Reed's Fort funning it under the name of Pichette brothers. In 1882 Mr. C.
Boisonneault opened a store in Maiden. At this time all merchandise came up the ]\;Iissouri river by boat.
Maiden at this time was a very lovely town having the characteristics of a vivid frontier city. Finally 1. C.
Powers of Helena bought out the trading post of Janeaux.
Farming at this time was being done in a very small way, some attention being given to the raising
of grain and vegetables on Warm Spring Creek. Dry farming at that time was unknown. About in 1883
Charles Lehman opened a store in Cottonwood under the charge ofW. W. Dewitt. To 1. C. Powers is
History ofFergus County from the early days -1-

Mercy Jackson was an early school teacher in Lewistown. Her family arrived in this area on July, 1884

Creator

Mercy Jackson

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documents

Type

Text

Date Original

1880

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Lewistown, Montana; Fergus County, Montana;

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Contributing Institution

Lewistown Public Library, Lewistown, MT

Geographic Coverage

Fergus County, Montana

Coverage-date

1880's

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Full text of this item

HISTORY OF FERGUS COUNTY FROM THE EARLY DAYS
By Mercy Jackson
Fergus County is an irregular oblong running 120 miles east and west and 75 miles north and south. The Missouri river forms the northern boundary and the Musselshell the eastern boundary. It contains 7,303 sq. miles. About 3/5 of the land in Fergus County is agricultural land, 1/5 grazing and 1/5 mountainous. The North and South Moccasin are in the north central part of the county and the Snowies on the Southern border. The Judith River drains all the territory between the ranges.
Judith River was named in honor of a beautiful girl in Virginia to whom a lieutenant in the U. S. army attached to expedition down the river was engaged, the river described was named Judith's (not Judith). It rises in the Rocky Mountains near the Yellowstone River, its entrance being 100 yards wide.
Judith Basin is a tract of land 60 miles square. It is directly tributary to Maiden and the valleys in the Judith Mts. being supplied with a plentiful supply of fine spring water. Lewistown, the center of Fergus Co. is 1400 miles from Chicago, 975 miles from Minneapolis, 117 miles from Great Falls, 250 miles from Butte, 154 miles from Billings, 201 miles from Bozeman, 211 miles from Helena, 420 miles from Kalispell, 302 miles from Miles City, 377 miles from Missoula.
The first merchandising carried on in Fergus Co. was conducted by various parties of trappers who had come the Missouri river by boat and would make short excursions into what is now Judith Basin. The first merchandising in this community had its origin in 1873 when Nelson Story of Bozeman built a trading post with T. I. Dawes in charge on the site just back of old Reed's fort post office which is still in existence opposite Frank Day's home. In 1878 Janeaux's, Dr. LaPalme, Gershon and the Pichette Bros. arrived. Mr. & Mrs. Janeaux filed the first homestead ever filed in Fergus Co.; this was before there was such a county or state as Mont. The old Janeaux homestead runs through the north and eastern part of the city across Spring Creek and now comprises some of the choice business and residence property of the city. Soon after their location here they found it necessary to call upon the governor of the territory to send some troops here for protection against the Indians and Major Lewis [not accurate he never came to this area] was placed in charge of the command. Soon after this the Nelson Story trading post was sold to Major Reed and John Bowles and finally this was moved 2 & 1/2 miles down the creek to what was known as Carrot's crossing of Spring Creek. In the fall of 1875 Reeds Fort was abandoned. In 1879 F. A. Janeaux established a trading post on the present site of Lewistown and engaged in the trading business with the Indians. Mr. Janeaux died in 1888.
The first discovery of minerals was made by Joe Anderson and David Jones in May 1880. Gold was first found in 1880 in the Alpine Gulch. Warm Spring Gulch was next struck, this being near the present site of Maiden. A few days later the gulch of Maiden was located by Frank M.C. Farthen [McPartlan].
To N. E. Dinsmore belongs the honor of opening the first exclusive clothing store while Mrs. Dr. Rawn had the first millinery and exclusive ladies ready to wear store. In 1880 C. Boisonneault and Pichette erected a store at Reed's Fort running it under the name of Pichette brothers. In 1882 Mr. C. Boisonneault opened a store in Maiden. At this time all merchandise came up the Missouri river by boat. Maiden at this time was a very lovely town having the characteristics of a vivid frontier city. Finally T. C. Powers of Helena bought out the trading post of Janeaux.
Farming at this time was being done in a very small way, some attention being given to the raising of grain and vegetables on Warm Spring Creek. Dry farming at that time was unknown. About in 1883 Charles Lehman opened a store in Cottonwood under the charge of W. W. Dewitt. To T. C. Powers is accredited the honor of being the pioneer merchant of the basin. In the summer of 1882 Mr. Janeaux built the house occupied for so many years by the Gudgell family on Washington St. and Third Avenue. When the house was done there was a house warming under the auspices of Percy Kennet and his cowboys. Every man and woman in the County who could get there went and danced until morning.
The first newspaper ever published in Fergus County came from the press at Maiden on August 9, 1883. This newspaper was the Mineral Argus, and it was put out by John Vrooman and Chas. Fell. The first copy was sold for $5.00. The first issue of this paper gives a review of the mines and mining operations. The review is headed: "Maiden the richest Mining camp in Eastern Montana". The bulk of the advertisements consisted of about half and half saloon and patent medicine. The Postmaster at Reedsfort in 1880 and 1881 was Major Reed and he was succeeded by Judge Toombs who was in turn succeeded by Frank Day.
In 1881 the Meagher County Commissioners finding that there were some half breed children in this locality decided to establish a public school here. Mr. Brassey was chosen to open this school and he taught through the winter of 1881 and 1882. The school was opened in October with 35 breeds and 4 white children (Sullengers) in attendance.
The school house was a small log structure standing on what is known as the Gudgell property. It was on what is now Third Avenue, a block and a half north from the Power Merc. Co.'s present store. The log did stand on the property of Mrs. Frank Wright for a long time near Third Ave. not far from its original location. Mr. Brassey lived with Janeaux in his stockade located on what is now Main St. south from Third Avenue. In 1882 Francis Janeaux yielded to solicitations of his friends and consented to plat part of his land for a village. Dr. La Palme who left Lewistown in 1893 to reside in Canada was employed to lay out the town. Lewistown [inaccurate-Capt. Lewis never visited this area] was named in honor of an army officer who first came here in 1870. In 1882 the townsite of Lewistown was laid out. The County of Fergus created in 1885 was named for the late James Fergus. The nearest railroad was 125 miles distant on the Northern Pacific. At this time a part of Mr. Janeaux's farm was fenced in and under cultivation, it was the piece comprised between the southeast line of Main St., the creek and the south line of the forty. As they did not then figure on a town but only a small village Mr. Janeaux did not wish to derange his filed so the fence was taken for a starting line. This is the reason why the streets of Lewistown are not running with main points of the compass.
As the population increased it was necessary for them to build a new school, so the first school house was built in 1882. After the little frame school house had served the community both as an educational and religious center was no longer adequate for need and almost simultaneously a new church and a brick school house came into being. The first corps of teachers was: Mrs. Dawkins primary, Miss Ella Smith intermediate, and Mr. J. M. Parrent advanced. The little frame school house which was built in 1882 stood idle for a time and then served to care for the overflow of small humanity which in a few short years had overtaxed the new brick building also, then the land where the little old school house stood was sold & today several blocks away from its original site it stands on the south east corner of 5th Ave, and Washington St. serving as a dwelling while the Lewistown Creamery, Democrat News, Lewistown Grocery, and Montgomery Ward cover what was once the school site and the ample play grounds surrounding it.
The new brick building built in 1889 on the present Lincoln school site was a two story structure boasting a tower and a bell. This school house had its well and pump. It was heated with stoves. Later on more teachers were added to the staff and in the course of time a city high school was organized. John Schmitt and Frank Spragg, were the first ones to graduate from the city High. The former is now a mining engineer in Brazil having graduated from the agricultural College of Bozeman and from Cornell and the other one specialized in grain and grasses at Bozeman. He held a very important professorship in Michigan Agricultural College. Later as the grew it was necessary to rent space in different buildings in Lewistown, one was in the Jackson building located on east main, this building being built in 1887 and the other was in a building located where bank Electric building now stands. In the period of time from 1883 to 1887 we find many names added to the population of Lewistown with which we have become very familiar. Mrs. M. L. Watson came and established a home in 1885. Dr. and Mrs. Hansen built a home of Fifth Ave. The Peter Anderson family the Gudgell family, the three Jackson's: Robert, Joseph Dorman, and Marshall with their families, Charlie Richards, Ed DeFrates, Joe Mason Samuel Phillips, Tom Leard drove 2000 head of sheep into the country in May 1881 locating on Spring Creek, on the land now owned by Mr. McVay. Mrs. Frank Day came to Montana in 1878 and to Lewistown in 1880 and located at the Day ranch. She died Jan. 6, 1903. In 1883 Mr. Day and Mr. Holzemer built the Day house at Reeds fort. In the summer of 1886 this was moved down to Main Street where the American Legion now stands. In 1889 the wing was enlarged and a second story was added.
Mr. Cyrus Styles came to Lewistown in the early 80's. He was the building of the first flour milling plant in the Judith Basin and for many years operated the Judith Basin Roller Mills. He also installed the first electric lighting plant in Lewistown and owned the system for a number of years. Mr. Culver came to Lewistown in 1880 when the only building here was Janeaux's general store and stockade. Mr. Day was the only white man here when Mr. Culver arrived.
The merchants in this early day were not without their troubles especially those in and about Maiden for shortly after their buildings were erected and order was received from the war department ordering all persons to vacate the reservation. There were also certain species of creatures who were altogether too careless with their weapons as was in evidence on July 4th 1884. Two gentlemen by the names of Chas. Owens (Rattlesnake Jake) and Fallon tried to put a half breed out of business in the doorway of Power's store at Lewistown, it finally resulted in their killing an innocent man (Ben Smith) who had just arrived in Lewistown that day with the Jackson's. One of their bullets lodged in the door casing, one in the clothing and the other through a spool rack and destroyed a beautiful show case which had just arrived. It will be interesting to know that these two men were consigned to an untimely grave. First they were buried on the east side of the creek on the Pichette property afterwards being ordered to be moved. They were dragged with chains about 1 mile and placed out on the property now owned by Mercy Jackson east of the reservoir.
Mr. W. H. Culver conducted the first opera house and was also Lewistown's first photographer. John Barnes arrived in Montana in 1864. Joseph Walker in 1863. James Weldon in 1862. John Simpson in 1864. Dr. Williard has the honor of being the first resident surgeon in the Judith Basin. There were just two other doctors of this early period namely: Dr. La Palme and Dr. Hanson. Mr. D. M. and John Crowley settled on their ranches in 1881 on the fairground road. Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Shafer, L. W. Eldridge, Mike Gurnett and John Gilkerson were all early arrivals. J. T. Douglas, wife, mother and two sisters came in 1881. The sisters are now Mrs. Eldridge & Mrs. Gilkerson. In 1886 Vrooman and Fell moved their newspaper plant from Maiden to Lewistown, and located in the old De Frate house where Mr. Creel's undertaking parlors are now. In August 1885 there were 51 structures in Lewistown: M.E. Church, school house, 22 business houses, 28 residences and a jail. In Aug. 1888 we had a bank, 2 livery stables, 3 merchandise stores, 1 drug store, 1 confectionary store, 2 hotels, 5 saloons, 2 harness shops, 1 barber shop, 3 blacksmith shops, 1 printing office, 1 bowling alley, 1 meat market, 2 Chinese laundries, 2 shoe shops, 1 flour mill, 1 photograph gallery, 2 warehouses, 1 saw mill and 1 restaurant. The Lewistown hotel was built in 1882 by Judge Toombs and he was in charge for a number of years also Mr. & Mrs. Hortop. The Methodist church was built in 1886 and the Catholic was opened Sept 23, 1888.
The amusements of the pioneers who first settled the Judith Basin consisted largely of visits to the neighbors generally many miles distant. Liquid refreshments served for the men and an abundant supply of more solid food for all graced every occasion. During the winter of 1883 surprise parties were quite the fashion. In 1886 a literary society was formed which was a source of entertainment for several winters. The first meeting was held on the evening of Feb. 16. Debate was the strong point of this society, one debate being: "are the large cattle companies a benefit to Montana!" One debate which was interesting was, "Resolved that lying is a greater evil than intemperance!" In 1887 The Bank of Fergus County was erected, Frank Wright who came to Montana in 1880 assisted in organizing the bank and was appointed assistant cashier. The bank occupied lower floors and the county offices the upper. 1888 the brick court house was built.
The first election ever held in Fergus Co. was in 1886. The act creating the County was approved March 12, 1885 and it became effective Dec. 1, 1886, the result placed Fergus in the column of Republican Counties. The first set of County officers was elected Nov. 1886. R. Von Tobel Administrator, C. S. Fell deputy clerk of the District Court, Judge Meagher judge of probate, F. E. Smith County Attorney, W. H. Kelly, Clerk & Recorder, F. E. Wright Treasurer, Mike Gurnett Assessor, John Beck, Sheriff and Commissioners: E. P. Chandler, Wm. Berkin and John Barnes. At the first election of Fergus Co. the total vote was 1105, and Lewistown's was 228.
On the fourth of April 1887 Judge Thos. Bach associate of the supreme court of Mont. convened the first district court of Mont. in Fergus Co. Mr. Vrooman the first deputy Clerk of the Court called the fourth district court to order in front of the old jail on top of the hill. Judge Bach opened court and the first order of business was the swearing in of the grand jury comprising: Louis D. Smith, David Hilger, George Williamson, A. B. Bean, T. A. Sloan, O. W. Kelly, H. F. Clement, Geo. Fallagan, F. Stoddard, John Duffield, Thos. Gregory, Robert Jackson, L. A. La Palme, Hugh Cameron, Rodger Clifford, and John McCourt. At this time there was no court house in Lewistown, the only county property being a small frame jail located where our present court house now stands.
The first term of Court was held in a two story frame building located on the south bank of Spring Creek near the bridge. This building had an outside stairway. The building was Chas. Richards. The first citizenship papers were those of Joseph Putz, who became a citizen on Apr. 4th 1887 followed within a few days by Peter Berger, Isiah Berger, Ernest Busch, L. A. La Palme and Hugh Cameron. The first divorce granted within the fourth Judicial District Court was the case of Cordelia Wilmarth versus W. H. Wilmarth. This was granted April 5, 1887.
The first criminal case tried in Fergus Co. was entitled, "The Territory of Montana versus Ivory and Grizzly Bear", two Indians charged with the terrible offense of stealing horses. The jury that tried the case was, Geo. Brown, A. Rogers, R. F. Craddock, Sullivan Wareham, Joseph Jackson, J. C. Walker, W. S. Perkins, J. C. Gilkerson, H. A. Jellison, H. C. Swingley, George Reeder and David Carlisle. The two Indians were found guilty and sentenced to 5 and 8 years imprisonment in the state penitentiary at hard labor. The first important lawsuit tried in the Co. was the case of Thos. Culnan versus A. Lincoln involving the construction of the Lincoln ditch out on Warm Spring Creek. This was in favor of the Plaintiff, this decree entered Apr. 7, 87.
The first marriage license issue in Fergus Co. was granted to Louis W. Eldridge and Alfretta Douglas, who were married Nov. 17, 1886 by Rev. W. W. VanOrsdale. On the same day one was issued to John 0. Gilkerson & Nora D. Ball.
Nels Jensen put up the building known as the Landt building and it was far enough along on the 4th of July 1887 so the dance was given there. The usual exercises in celebration of the day had taken place in the fore noon, H. F. Clement of Flatwillow as orator, Miss Alice Watson read the declaration of Independence and Mrs. Clement presided at the organ. The T. C. Power & Brothers firm became the Power Mercantile Co. upon the death of John Power. It has twice changed its location, first out growing the small frame structure on the present site and moving about 1893 across the street where the Green Lantern building was. This store soon became too small and the present building was erected. In 1900 John L. Bright obtained the controlling interest in the Citizen's Electric Co. and built this business up to one of the chief enterprises of Lewistown. In 1888 the Masonic Lodge was first installed in the R. G. Jackson building on the east side of
town. In 1902 The Bank of Fergus Co. building and the Lewistown hotel burned. The first National Bank was organized during the winter of 1899. The Day House was sold to Barnes & Woodman in 1896. In 1912 the building was purchased by the State Bank of Lewistown.The Public Library was organized Feb. 12, 1897. In Sept. 1901 Mrs. M. A. Sloan was elected librarian at the salary of $10.00 a month. In Dec 1904 Mrs. Sloan tendered her resignation as librarian which took place Jan. 1 1905 and Mrs. Albert Pfaus was elected as her successor. In July 1906 Mr. Archie Farnum was elected librarian. On Jan 7th 1907 the new Carnegie Building was completed. When Mr. Farnum resigned Mrs. Albert Pfaus was reinstated as librarian, when on resignation Mrs. Guy Waite was elected librarian. On Sept. 26, 1913, Miss Clara Main was elected and held the position for many years.
Lewistown's first telephone connection with the outside world was by means of a line built between Lewistown and Big Timber by Severence & Co. Others were built in 1892 connecting Ubet, Trout Creek, Oka, and Merino, this line being built under the supervision of W. W. Watson. In 1893 local parties engaged Mr. Watson to build a line from Lewistown to Gilt Edge. The Lewistown terminals were located in Stevens Drug Store there being no exchange in Lewistown until 1897, when Austin Warr and others organized the Lewistown Telephone Co. In 1905 George Stone and others organized the Lewistown & Billings Mutual Telephone Co., and for about 5 years Lewistown had 2 systems.
The making of Counties in Montana is quite an interesting topic. Some have given names of Indian significance such as Beaver Head, Teton and Deer Lodge and Missoula. Cascade is very appropriate name given because its central topographical feature is the Cascades of the Missouri river from the mouth of the Sun river to the mouth of the Highwood. Generally speaking they have all been named from some persons of national prominence. In Nov. 1903 the toot of the first locomotive was heard, being first built by Richard A. Harlow who now conducts one of the largest pure bred stock farms in the Moore section. This road furnishes an outlet to the Northern Pacific and with the building in of the Milwaukee and Great Northern the destiny of Lewistown began to be made clear.
A good deal of Lewistown's history is represented in the name of its streets. Taking the name of these streets alphabetically we first find Barnes, this runs from the Milwaukee tracks to Spring Creek two blocks south east of Main. It was named after the late John P. Barnes, Lewistown's first mayor, and one of the most widely known pioneers of the state. Next comes Bebb, called after John C. Bebb, who was the
city's first fire chief. Belden Ave in Park Addition was named after Oliver W. Belden who had much to do with the creation and development of the addition. Brassey St. was named after Lewistown's first schoolmaster Edw. Brassey. Cook Street was named for Lewistown's second mayor Geo. W. Cook. Corcoran St was named in honor of James Corcoran a prominent contractor in the early days. Dawes St was named after a Lewistown woman Mrs. Watson formerly Miss Lou Dawes. Evelyn was named for Mrs. Evelyn Desy one of the original settlers. Hilger St. was named for David Hilger. Janeaux St was named for Francis Janeaux, who had most to do with the founding of the city. Miller St was named for Billy Miller, one of Powers first clerks. Morase St was named for Paul Morase. Ouelette St. was named for Antoine Ouelette. Shields St. was named for Peter Shields. Virginia St. was named for Virginia Janeaux.
The ten who contributed most to the development and up building of Montana are: T. C. Powers of Helena, Con Kohrs of Deer Lodge, Ex Gov. Kemp Toole of Helena, Thos A. Marlow of Helena, Gen Chas. Warren of Butte, Chris Yegan of Billings, Paul McCormick of Billings, W. A. Lindsey of Miles City, W. A. Clark of Butte and Nelson Story of Bozeman.

HISTORY OF FERGUS COUNTY FROM THE EARLY DAYS
Fergus County is an irregular oblong running 120 miles east and west and 75 miles north and south.
The Missouri river forms the northern boundary and the Musselshell the eastern boundary. It contains
7,303 sq. miles. About 3/5 of the land in Fergus County is agricultural land, 1/5 grazing and 1/5
mountainous. The North and South Moccasin are in the north central part of the county and the Snowies
on the Southern border. The Judith river drains all the territory between the ranges.
Judith river was named in honor of a beautiful girl in Virginia to whom a lieutenant in the U. S.
army attached to expedition down the river was engaged, the river described was named Judith's (not
Judith). It rises in the Rocky Mountains near the Yellowstone river, its entrance being 100 yards wide.
Judith Basin is a tract of land 60 miles square. It is directly tributary to Maiden and the valleys in
the Judith Mts. being supplied with a plentiful supply offine spring water.
Lewistown, the center of Fergus Co. is 1400 miles from Chicago, 975 miles from IvIinneapolis, 117
miles from Great Falls, 250 miles from Butte, 154 miles from Billings, 201 miles from Bozeman, 211 miles
from Helena, 420 miles from Kalispell, 302 miles from Miles City, 377 miles from Missoula.
The first merchandising carried on in Fergus Co. was conducted by various parties of trappers who
had come the Missouri river by boat and would make short excursions into what is now Judith Basin. The
first merchandising in this community had its origin in 1873 when Nelson Story of Bozeman built a trading
post with 1. I. Dawes in charge on the site just back of old Reed's fort post office which is still in existence
opposite Frank Day's home. In 1878 Janeaux's, Dr. LaPalme, Gershon and the Pichette Bros. arrived. Mr.
& Mrs. Janeaux filed the first homestead ever filed in Fergus Co., this was before there was such a county
or state as Mont. The old Janeaux homestead runs through the north and eastern part of the city across
Spring Creek and now comprises some of the choice business and residence property of the city. Soon
after their location here they found it necessary to call upon the governor of the territory to send some
troops here for protection against the Indians and Major Lewis was placed in charge of the command.
Soon after this the Nelson Story trading post was sold to Major Reed and John Bowles and finaily this was
moved 2 & 1/2 miles down the creek to what was known as Carrol's crossing of Spring Creek. In the fall
of 1875 Reeds Fort was abandoned. In 1879 F. A. Janeaux established a trading post on the present site of
Lewistown and engaged in the trading business with the Indians. Mr. Janeaux died in 1888.
The first discovery of minerals was made by Joe Anderson and David Jones in May 1880. Gold
was first found in 1880 in the Alpine Gulch. Warm Spring Gulch was next struck, this being near the
present site of Maiden. A few days later the guich ofMaiden was located by Frank Mc Farthen.
To N. E. Dinsmore belongs the honor of opening the first exclusive clothing store while Mrs. Dr.
Rawn had the first millinery and exclusive ladies ready to wear store. In 1880 C. Boisonneault and
Pichette erected a store at Reed's Fort funning it under the name of Pichette brothers. In 1882 Mr. C.
Boisonneault opened a store in Maiden. At this time all merchandise came up the ]\;Iissouri river by boat.
Maiden at this time was a very lovely town having the characteristics of a vivid frontier city. Finally 1. C.
Powers of Helena bought out the trading post of Janeaux.
Farming at this time was being done in a very small way, some attention being given to the raising
of grain and vegetables on Warm Spring Creek. Dry farming at that time was unknown. About in 1883
Charles Lehman opened a store in Cottonwood under the charge ofW. W. Dewitt. To 1. C. Powers is
History ofFergus County from the early days -1-